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Reputed as one of northern Italy’s major seaside ports, the provincial town of Savona in the scenic Liguria region boasts more than heavy industry. A look beyond the harbor reveals a medieval fortress, art galleries and cathedrals alongside vibrantly colored seaside homes. Savona is easily accessible via roadway, train and ferry; it attracts fewer tourist droves than many of its Mediterranean neighbors.

Geography

Savona is found in the heart of Liguria, a northwestern Italian region along the Mediterranean coast. Located 25 miles west of Genova and 93 miles east of Nice, France, this provincial town’s seaside location helped it develop into an important port city whose harbor serves as the area’s main industrial hub for automobile exports. Multiple ferries and Mediterranean cruise ships also frequently depart from Savona’s harbor.

Getting There

Savona is well served by train and bus with several daily connections to nearby towns in Liguria as well as to other parts of Italy and the French Riviera. Genova’s Cristoforo Colombo Airport is located about 26 miles from Savona, with daily flights to and from Rome, Naples, Barcelona and Monaco. Those traveling by train can easily make their way to Savona’s train station via train from Genova, Turin or Milan, as well as from Nice, France. There are also numerous daily buses to Savona’s Piazza del Popolo from Genova and the rest of Liguria. Travelers can also easily drive to Savona, taking Autostrada 10 (A10) west from Genova or east from Nice, or European Routes 74 or 717 (E74, E717) southward from Turin.

Weather and Crowds

Summer tends to be the most popular time to visit Savona, particularly in July and August, when most Italian workers and students are on vacation. Travelers planning to visit Savona during this time should book travel and accommodations well in advance, as the popular seaport can become crowded with foreign and domestic tourists. This is also the hottest time of year, when average daytime temperatures linger around the low to mid-80s Fahrenheit. The months of May, June, and September can be ideal times to visit Savona; it then has pleasant temperatures averaging around 73 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as thinner crowds and lower prices on lodging and transportation.

Accommodations

Savona boasts around a dozen hotels from roomy sea-view resorts to small bed and breakfasts. Many of the city’s top-rated accommodations offer reasonable prices for the location, such as popular seaside hotels Motel Miro and Hotel Mare. More modest accommodations within six miles of Savona can be found at the Respiro del Tempo hotel in Quiliano or the Hotel Serena in Varazze, both within close walking distance to beaches.

Attractions

Behind Savona’s long industrial seaport is a surprisingly picturesque town center dominated by a medieval fortress and cathedrals. The imposing 16th-Century Fortezza Priamar overlooking the Mediterranean was built by Genovese workers, mainly to demonstrate their dominance over the Savonese, whom they had just defeated in battle. These days, two sculpture museums and an archaeological museum displaying finds from the area’s prehistory can be found within the fortress’ walls. Within walking distance is another of the town’s rare preserved 16th-Century buildings, the ornate Cattedrale di Nostra Signora Assunta, built to replace the crumbling 13th-Century Church of St. Francis. In Piazza Chabrol, the Pinatoca Civica Savona museum houses an impressive collection of 14th and 15th-Century religious art, as well as two Picasso paintings.